It's easy to understand why there's widespread support for politicians and others who argue we shouldn't talk about climate change in the middle of a bushfire emergency.

We'd much prefer to think of climate change as a long-term global risk we can emotionally detach from; bushfires bring the threat uncomfortably close to home.

But that's no reason not to talk about it. We must decide to get ready for a lot more angry summers. They're going to be tragic, expensive and disruptive, and the sooner we get our heads around that the better off we'll be.